MASSUCCI BREAKS BOARDMAN’S HEART AT THE BUZZER

By Noah Ricks 

HOWLAND CENTER, OH – In another AAC classic, the Howland Lady Tigers would steal one from the Boardman Spartans. Senior Alyssa Massucci drained in a long two at the buzzer to lift the Tigers to a 54-52 shocker over the Spartans at home.

Most of Massucci’s points came in the first half as she picked up 12 in the first sixteen minutes, en route to an 18-point performance. She was also just one of three Howland girls in double figures as Maya Kubanscek picked up 14 and Sophia Powell cashed in 10. The Tigers led by as much as 11 at one point, keeping pace with the first-place Spartans. They were also aided from shooting 77% from the foul line.

Howland led 30-25 at the break before Boardman would respond with a 20-8 third quarter. Senior Mackenzie Riccitelli would pick up 10 of those third-quarter points, and she would end the afternoon leading all scorers with 19. Tagging along Riccitelli was M.C. Werth, who picked up 13 points. Samantha Duble also had a strong quarter, as she compiled all nine of her tallies in the second, all of them coming from beyond the arc. Overall, the Spartans would pick up 10 three-pointers as a unit.

Boardman led by two possessions in the final minutes thanks to a three-pointer from Riccitelli, but the Tigers came roaring back. After a made bucket, Maya Kubanscek drew a shooting foul on the following possession and sank both of her free throws to tie it up at 52-52. The Tigers then got a key rebound and called a timeout with 2.9 seconds left to give Massucci a chance to end it in regulation. Massucci then received the inbound pass and shot it up to hit nothing but net, igniting the celebration.

Howland (14-5, 4-3 AAC) will now travel out to Lakeview on Thursday to square off with the Bulldogs. The Tigers won last year’s meeting at home 62-34. Boardman (15-5, 6-2 AAC) has their six-game winning streak snapped as they will look to get back in the win column Monday at home against Warren JFK.

You can watch interviews with Howland head coach Aaron Pounds and YSN Live Player of the Game Alyssa Massucci below.